It’s been a breakthrough year for Wānaka cycling sensation Ellesse Andrews.The 21-year-old shot to sporting stardom with a silver medal in the Keirin (track cycling) at the Tokyo Olympics in August. She is now enjoying some rest and relaxation here in Wānaka, where she spoke to the Wānaka App.Ellesse said it was an emotional moment when she exited MIQ (managed isolation quarantine) on returning from the Tokyo Olympics.“When I came out of MIQ, my dad, mum and younger sibling were there and the new family dog who I hadn’t met. They were at the entrance of the MIQ hotel and we had big cuddles.“Just getting out of the hotel and being able to hug my family and my parents was quite emotional. I was exhausted and it felt so nice to be with loved ones again.”Ellesse hadn’t competed in an international competition in the 18 months preceding the Tokyo Olympics which meant she didn’t know what to expect. “I felt strong and confident I’d done my training to the best of my ability, so I focused on what I could control to put myself in good positions to progress through the competition. I didn’t have any expectations - I wanted to do well but you just try to take it one step at a time.”She said it was hard attending the Tokyo Olympics without friends and family to support her and celebrate with her.“Some of my dad’s Japanese work colleagues came and watched me race and they had a great big New Zealand flag. That was really special as I knew it was representative of my family.” Ellesse attended Mount Aspiring College (MAC) from 2009 to 2016 and describes herself as a sporty kid.“I played lots of sports as a kid but when I started cycling it felt much more natural compared to other sports, and I was able to progress faster than other sports I played.”Ellesse entered her first cycling competition on the track when she was 13, travelling to a velodrome in Invercargill to compete.Her talent was instantly recognisable and just three years later she won a gold medal in the team sprint and a bronze in the individual pursuit at the 2016 Junior Track Cycling World Championships.Ellesse is driven by the intensity of competitions but returning to Wānaka gives her a chance to recalibrate. “It’s inspiring to go to a competition and see all the best athletes in the world. [The Tokyo Olympics] was a great experience, and super positive for me, but I love coming back to where I grew up, jumping on my mountain bike and doing things completely different to what I do on the track”.Ellesse has family and friends in Wānaka and says she is supported by local sports retailer Racers Edge. “They’re part of my team,” she said.Ellesse will be back training in Cambridge next month with a focus on the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England but says her cycling team will definitely be having a conversation about Paris (2024 Olympics) when she returns to training. PHOTO: Wānaka App

Wānaka resident Hetty Van Hale has been reappointed to the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) board for a second three-year term starting on December 1. Hetty said she was delighted to continue her role as trustee on the largest philanthropic trust per capita in the Southern Hemisphere. “It is an honour for me to be able to serve on the board of CLT, an organisation focused on improving community wellbeing,” she said. “We are incredibly lucky to have such an asset as a community funding source.”CLT has $450M in assets, including 100 per cent ownership of Pioneer Energy, and it currently distributes over $9M annually to charitable causes within Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes.CLT chair Linda Robertson said Hetty’s contribution to the board was significant.“Hetty has over 25 years’ governance experience on boards covering a broad industry range, and she has a strong history of volunteering for community organisations and events over this time, having lived in the Central Lakes region since 1995,” Linda said.The board’s structure allows for three appointed trustees alongside five publicly elected trustees. Hetty was appointed to the board in December 2018 and she is currently deputy chair of the trust. Her plan to move away from Wānaka does not prevent Hetty from continuing her role with CLT because, unlike elected trustees, appointed trustees can be based outside the region, CLT communications and marketing coordinator Carryn Colton said.“The appointed trustees are brought on board to ensure appropriate expertise to decision making and greater continuity at a governance-level,” Carryn said.The reappointment panel included Simon Telfer from specialist board recruitment company Stimulus Consulting, CLT trustee Tony Lepper, and experienced director Alison Geary.“Over time, the diversification, scale and complexity of the trust's investment portfolio has intensified, and the trust increasingly requires trustees that can bring appropriate expertise to decision making and greater continuity at a governance-level,” Linda said. The community will vote for its elected trustees at next year’s election.PHOTO: Supplied

The Wānaka Maternity Hub opened in May; in June a primary birthing unit was confirmed for the town; and now, in the latest positive news for Wānaka midwifery services, two new midwives are joining the Wānaka Midwives team. Wānaka Midwives said it had historically struggled to retain its community midwives, and the town’s distance from a base hospital brings challenges for both midwives and families, but new changes were helping build sustainable midwifery in Wānaka.“With support from the Southern District Health Board (SDHB), and growing our new midwives through Otago Polytechnic, we are now seeing the benefits in building sustainable midwifery to provide maternity care to our birthing families,” Wānaka Midwives said in a statement.Katy Christian recently joined Wānaka Midwives and Emily Sancha will come on board in February next year. Katy told the Wānaka App she hoped her new role would help to take some of the pressure off fellow midwives Deb Harvey and Peta Hosking.  “As a team we can provide back-up to each other to ensure a safe level of midwifery care is always available to Wānaka families, along with being able to give each other defined time off which is also important to sustaining yourself as an LMC [lead maternity carer] midwife.”“This will be increased even more when Emily joins Wānaka Midwives next year.”Katy studied midwifery at Otago Polytechnic, a degree Emily is currently finishing ahead of joining Wānaka Midwives.“I’ve almost finished my second placement and was delighted when [Wānaka Midwives] asked if I would like to join their practice next year,” Emily said. “They’re highly experienced in rural midwifery and I’m really looking forward to working with them.”SDHB rural health service manager Debi Lawry said the health board was delighted to see the midwifery service in Wānaka move from “strength to strength”.The health board had leased the Wānaka Maternal Hub facility, funded a service coordinator, supported the cost of consumables and some equipment, and provided a locum for a few days per month.The primary birthing unit the SDHB was creating was also “well underway”, Debi said. When the SDHB partners with health providers like midwives, sometimes that support isn’t sufficient to meet their needs, she said.“However, in Wānaka the midwifery group has been able to leverage this support, and through their hard work and dedication to the community, managed to grow and prosper,” she said.“SDHB wants to acknowledge that the midwives in Wānaka have put the hard yards in place to grow maternity care for women and their whanau in Wānaka. Their support of new midwives coming into the area has been outstanding, and is a large part of their success story.”PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka restaurateur Francesca Voza has taken on her next project: a grand manor in Christchurch which will host a fine dining restaurant.Francesca’s New Zealand food journey began in 2010 when she arrived in Wānaka with just $600 in her pocket but lots of big plans. She started out with Franceca’s food truck, which expanded into a restaurant which has become a Wānaka mainstay.Despite the challenges of Covid-19 Francesca’s one of five restaurants from around the country to be named a finalist in the ‘Best Restaurant’ category at the Hospitality Awards for Excellence.“We are very grateful for the support we have received from the Wānaka locals during the last year,” Francesca told the Wānaka App.Francesca will create Miro at the Manor at Eliza’s Manor in Christchurch. PHOTO: SuppliedShe expanded into Christchurch with a second Francesca’s restaurant, and later, a fine dining restaurant called Miro, among other new restaurants. Francesca and her team are now planning to open Miro at the Manor.  “We fell in love with the history of the building,” Francesca told the Wānaka App. Eliza’s Manor was once the home of prominent business and councilmen and their families; was rented as a boarding house for St Margaret’s College; used as a private maternity and general hospital; and in 1981, it was converted into a bed and breakfast.Francesca said the building had an amazing past “and we want to make sure this isn’t forgotten”.“We want this to be a venue for all of New Zealand to visit and appreciate the stunning history of the place.”

A local musician has enlisted a very unusual ally - a house cow - to help publicise her new album.Hāwea singer/songwriter Anna Rowley recently released her first professionally recorded album, ‘Radiate’, which features eight original tracks recorded under the guidance of Danny Fairly at Mirrors Audio in Wānaka.“It was a great learning journey for me to work alongside another musician to create a super polished product,” Anna said.  “I wanted to make an upbeat album with strong melodies, and lyrics that listeners could relate to. A lot of the music is inspired by our stunning natural environment and the processes and rhythms of nature.” Anna said life can sometimes be over complicated, and she finds nature “can provide comfort with its simplicity and randomness”.PennyAnna, who lives on a farm in Hāwea, decided upon a “sneaky plan” to draw more people in to consume her music by introducing her house cow Penny on social media. “You can follow her fascinating journey as a house cow in southern NZ. She is due to calve any second... how will it unfold... keep watching to find out more,” Anna promised on Facebook.Anna worked on a dairy farm in her early 20s and became determined to get a house cow one day. Last year she bought Penny from Oamaru on TradeMe.“She tolerates me because I bring her treats to eat and, if I don’t muck around, she will stand still for me while I extract some milk. Every now and then we have a quick cuddle and admit that we actually like each other but generally we keep it professional,” Anna said. Penny is pregnant again - it looks like twins - and Anna says “I really hope she remembers our arrangement from last season”.People follow Penny’s pregnancy on social media, and also enjoy Anna’s album (which can be found on Spotify under Anna Rowley).PHOTOS: Supplied

Twenty-one years after first writing her novel, ‘Seeds of Doubt’, Shirley Deuchrass has decided to get it published. Shirley’s novel was inspired by a school project her daughter had been given about early New Zealand.She spent about five hours a day for the next year crafting the novel with the intention of creating “a historically accurate depiction of what it would be like to live in Southern New Zealand at that time”. The novel is set in 1866 and follows the protagonist, Harriet, as she moves from Dunedin to a quartz reef mine in Bullendale, Otago. Shirley went to a number of publishers with the hope to get the novel onto the shelves but was unfortunately faced with a variety of different feedback. She was advised to change the entire 85,000 words to present tense, and to add a modern story. Ultimately the assessment and advice from local publishers was that “historical novels are hard to sell… they must appeal to the modern reader”.The cover photo, taken 21 year ago, features a friend of Shirley’s daughter in period costume at St Clair beach, Dunedin.After building the characters and refining her story to appeal to a more popular audience, Shirley said she was finally ready to “let it go”. “I didn’t want to get any older and leave the story any longer for anyone else to deal with and I thought ‘I’ll do it myself’, so I paid for an editor and put it on the kindle.” Shirley has loved writing since the age of 15. She has had a number of poems published in literary journals and has self-published two other books for local communities. The difficulty with self-publishing is funding advertising and promotion for the book, she said. “I would just love it if it was picked up. When you’ve spent so much time and energy writing something there’s just no point having it sitting in the drawer and nobody reading it. The whole idea of writing it was for people to enjoy it,” she said.The book has been available on Amazon Kindle for just over a week and if it’s successful Shirley has said there’s room for a sequel. For anybody interested in writing and self-publishing, Shirley’s advice is not to give up. “Don’t stop learning. Podcasts are wonderful,” she said.“And read your writing aloud, it’s very important because you become much more aware of what it sounds like.” Shirley’s book can be dowloaded here.PHOTOS: Supplied

Lake Hāwea resident Errol Carr is hoping a new Men’s Shed will connect men across the community and facilitate a ‘mateship’ opportunity.Errol hopes the Hāwea Men’s Shed will be operational by the end of this year, which would make it the fourteenth shed in the Otago region. The group will have the opportunity to become a member of New Zealand’s representative body MENZSHED, a registered entity which brings men together to share skills, have a laugh and work on personal and community projects.A small steering group has been formed and interest is sought from Hāwea men who can provide some structure to help get the shed up and running.“Those interested don’t need to do anything or bring anything other than themselves. We will figure things out along the way, and definitely put our Hāwea stamp on it,” Errol said.The Men’s Shed would operate in a similar fashion to Wānaka’s MenShed’, which opened in May 2021, however the Hāwea group is placing focus on men from all career stages (working or retired) and all ages.“We have a very diverse population in Hāwea. We hope the Men’s Shed could facilitate the sharing of skills and experiences between our residents, and work on some projects together that can benefit our community,” Errol said.The Lake Hāwea Community Centre is the focal point for the Hāwea community, hosting line dancing, family nights and meet and greets for new residents. Over the past few months, the community centre committee has noticed a lack of opportunities for men looking to connect with others and fill their spare time. “The Men’s Shed will help to bring people back together, and perhaps to bring some creative opportunities with it,” he said.To get involved in the Men’s Shed steering group contact him on [email protected]

A Wānaka woman who has acted as a ‘shepherd’ in international efforts to evacuate vulnerable people from Afghanistan over the past fortnight is reeling from the experience.Emma Conyngham lived in Afghanistan for about three years in the early 2000s, and her connection with the place and its people drew her into the evacuation efforts as the US withdrew from the country. After connecting with a former workmate who works at USAID (United States Agency for International Development), Emma became a ‘shepherd’ - part of a movement supporters are calling ‘Digital Dunkirk’ - as one of many private citizens helping assist with evacuations from great distances, with the help of defence forces, on-the-ground connections and digital communication.Emma said it was a sort of “Chinese whispers” communication style, with commandos and defence force staff pinning maps and developing coordinates and people like Emma communicating that information with families on the ground and trying to help them reach the airport.It also included “an enormous amount” of paperwork, trying to file visa applications for Afghans and work through the bureaucracy and logistics required.It’s far too hard to estimate how many people were helped by her efforts, Emma said.“There were some people we shepherded just from one point to another; for some I did the case files; some of them were being shepherded along with much larger groups.”And where many of those people ended is unclear: “Even now people’s phones have died and we think they got on the planes but we don’t know.”Emma lived in Afghanistan in the early 2000s.With the US withdrawal and the Taliban takeover now complete, Emma says she is struggling to adjust to normal life after weeks of high stress and little sleep assisting agencies. Emma has a business called Waste Free Celebrations, which sells reusable gift wrapping, and she says it’s “hard to think about ribbons and fabric when my reality is at the most diametrically opposed end.”Her mind is still on three families in particular, personal friends, who could not be evacuated from Kabul Airport and are still living in extreme danger. They are among the 60,000-odd people who were unable to escape before the US forces retreated.There are 17 people among the three families that Emma is still working to help.“Their mother was killed by the Taliban, and their father has always been outspoken about the Taliban,” Emma said. “They can’t work or leave their houses and there’s only one family member from the whole group who is unrecognisable [to the Taliban] and they can move around.”Emma is raising money to help support them with safe housing and medical supplies, and to support Operation Recovery, a multi-agency effort to repatriate US citizens and Afghan allies who are still stuck in Afghanistan.There’s one person who made it out with Emma’s help who has recently arrived in New Zealand and hopes to meet her when travel around the country is permitted.‘Miriam’ (a pseudonym), is the sister of someone who was formerly on Emma’s sewing team. She had been a senior prosecutor for the attorney general’s office in Kabul and therefore had a “huge” target on her back, Emma said. After securing a temporary NZ visa, Miriam was evacuated from Afghanistan by the New Zealand Defence Force with assistance from Emma and other shepherds.Many of the details of the rescue cannot be shared because of privacy concerns, Emma said, but “shepherding Miriam was a 48 hour operation with no sleep”. Emma had to make split second decisions, including advising Miriam on behalf of the defence force to re-enter Taliban controlled areas while the sound of gunfire rang out. “When [she finally got through] we were all cheering,” Emma said. “We [the operations team and Emma] all felt really chuffed when we managed to get her and her husband and three kids out. “That whole process from start to finish was momentous.”Emma held communications and media roles with the United Nations and other agencies when she lived in Afghanistan, and said she’s remained connected to the country and the people she met during her time there. “I think I was there in a golden period,” Emma said. “After 9/11 the Taliban took off for a while [and] people were so happy to have foreigners there willing to help.”Support Emma’s fundraising efforts for the families in Afghanistan with a donation to Left Behind ‘06 0145 0328701 01’ or visit the Waste Free Celebrations Facebook page for details of products available for purchase with 100 per cent of profits going to the Afghan cause.PHOTOS: Supplied

Wanaka’s Niamh Shaw has plenty of insight into the varied challenges of being a district councillor.Niamh has spent the past 21 months working as a councillor, after being elected in late 2019. “It’s a fascinating experience, and I feel like I’ve finally settled into the role. Initially the learning curve was incredibly steep,” Niamh told the Wanaka App. “It’s a bit like having children… nobody can really tell you what it’s like.”The next election for the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), in October 2022, is likely to include an extra councillor for the Wanaka Ward.Submissions on the QLDC representation review closed on Friday (August 6) and the proposal for an additional councillor for Wanaka is expected to be passed at the review hearing later this month.“A small number of people assume things about you as a politician, and forget I’m a mum and a wife, I have friends and family and a life beyond council and I’ve got the same feelings and stresses and pressures as anyone else.”Niamh would like to see more people willing to put themselves forward in order to better effect change.“We need good civic minded community members to stand at the next election.”Niamh says she is fortunate that, due to the community work she did prior to the 2019 election, she has “a pretty clear mandate from the community”. “Some of the issues councillors face are quite complex, and the best outcome isn’t always immediately apparent. But I try to be consistent and authentic, and know that if I can’t justify something to myself, I’m not about to try with anyone else.”Representing her community is a highlight of being a councillor and one that Niamh relishes the most. “I love chatting to people and most people are appreciative, and say thank you for the work that you do,” she said.But as a councillor, and the proud mum of a nine-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl, Niamh is “still searching for that work-life balance”.“I once resolved not to work after I got the kids to bed at 8pm – but that went by the wayside,” she said.Niamh tries to avoid any council work on weekends to ensure she spends time with her family.On top of this, Niamh said regular exercise (walking her dog in Sticky Forest three times a week) is integral to her general health, and she tries not to spend that time “on the phone or picking over council issues in my brain”.Niamh has travelled widely and worked as a project manager in the Middle East for ten years, an experience which has provided an interesting contrast to her work in the Queenstown Lakes District.“All of my clients were Arabic or Indian males and people always assume that being a young female professional in that environment must have been really tough,” she said. “But it’s been fascinating to me that where I’ve felt most respected as a professional woman was in the Middle East. It was possible to earn respect by being extremely effective at what I did.“I stand on the shoulders – especially in New Zealand - of some remarkable, extraordinary women. Some of them have been vocal and active about gender equality and others have effected change by quietly working harder and smarter to just get the job done. And that’s largely what I’ve done in my current job: to be as well-prepared and logical and reasonable as possible, and always state my truth with respect and courtesy. I’ll continue to do that.“But I want to acknowledge that there are different challenges for [women], because it’s depressing that there’s still such resistance to the suggestion that equality for women still has a way to go. Whenever I mention this to other women, there’s such an immediate, inherent understanding of this. It really bothers me to think that our daughters will have to work harder and smarter for the same recognition in their chosen careers.”As a first time councillor Niamh’s exposure to public scrutiny has been a new experience. The QLDC Facebook page has examples of members of the council being referred to as “muppets” or “pigs at the trough”.“Some people can be totally different online than they are in person and I’ve had to step back from Facebook because when people are pounding away on a keyboard they forget there’s a person at the other end,” Niamh said. “A small number of people assume things about you as a politician, and forget I’m a mum and a wife, I have friends and family and a life beyond council and I’ve got the same feelings and stresses and pressures as anyone else.”Niamh acknowledges that council's interaction with the community can be improved. She identifies problems with the council's ability to present “appropriate, timely and genuine information to the community - as well as its elected members”.  Anyone thinking about standing for election can do so as long as they are a New Zealand citizen and registered to vote in the Otago district.

Eighty-year-old Lake Hāwea man Christopher Horan has written a book of stories and tips about how to become a vegan. Christopher, who has practiced veganism for roughly ten years, dispenses his best advice in the comical, self-published book ‘The Grumpy Old Vegan’. “If you could think of the most traditionally pathetically ignorant man, that was me,” Christopher said. He believes he was a “complete novice” when it came to buying and cooking vegan food, but he improved over time with the help of lots of research which he’s compiled into his book. Christopher’s concerns about animal welfare, growth hormones in meat products and food contamination were some of the reasons that prompted his lifestyle change. “I also just felt so relieved I wasn’t a part of the whole ‘eating animals’ thing. I hadn’t realised but it clearly had been bothering me for a while.” Christopher doesn’t deny there can be issues with making such a huge dietary change.“I try to be straight about that in the book: for example, I take B12 tablets daily.” Vitamin B12 can be found in dairy products and isn’t produced by plants. This nutrient is needed to help speed up reactions in your body, and deficiency can cause anaemia and nervous system damage. Local cafés rarely had a non-dairy option when Christopher first became vegan ten years ago. “Now, I went to one local café and they had two vegan menus,” he said.  Christopher belongs to a local writing group and has had short stories produced on Radio New Zealand National. He’s currently writing a novel.Anyone looking for extra hints and information about going vegan can find Christopher’s book at Wanaka PaperPlus. PHOTO: Supplied

Maungawera Valley artist and farmer Lizzie Carruthers has opened a new gallery with an exhibition inspired by a trip to Mou Waho Island.Lizzie’s exhibition, ‘Predators and Prey’, was inspired by a trip to the island via ECO Wanaka Adventures with the Maungawera Whisky Appreciation Society.ECO Wanaka owner Chris Riley’s knowledge of flora and fauna inspired Lizzie to take another angle on her long-standing interest in predators.Trips to MIlford Sound where she saw native birds and a recent trip to Zealandia where she saw a Saddleback for the first time, were also an inspiration.“It’s such iconic stuff and you don’t see it every day,” she said.The old garage gallery.Lizzie donated ten per cent of what sold on the exhibition’s opening night (more than $400) to Wanaka Backyard Trapping.The exhibition is on until Saturday (July 31) at the Old Garage Gallery, 100 Maungawera Valley Road.Lizzie said she is keen to have local artists use the gallery as an exhibition space.PHOTOS: Wanaka App

Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) has appointed a new CEO, Glen Sowry, to lead the airport team.QAC chair Adrienne Young-Cooper said the board of directors appointed Glen from a range of high calibre candidates after a “robust recruitment process”.“The board is very pleased to have appointed such a well-qualified business leader… [and] the board and I are looking forward to working with Glen to set the future direction for QAC and take the business forward,” she said.Glen is an experienced CEO, having held the position at Metlifecare and Housing New Zealand, and he has extensive aviation experience with a decade in a range of senior management roles at Air New Zealand.QAC is a Queenstown Lakes District Council-controlled organisation, operating Queenstown Airport and managing Wanaka Airport and Glenorchy airfield.Queenstown Airport“Queenstown Airport is a critical piece of social and economic infrastructure for the Southern Lakes region, as well as New Zealand,” Glen said. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with the board and wider team to shape the future of the airport in consultation with the community and QAC’s wide range of stakeholders.” Glen will relocate to Queenstown with his family in time to take up his new role from mid-September.Colin Keel, who was QAC’s CEO for over five years, announced his resignation in April but planned to stay on for the remainder of the financial year.PHOTOS: Supplied

Julie Aitken has taken on the role of chairperson for the Challenge Wanaka Sports Trust.The former commercial manager on the Challenge Wanaka team is an avid multisporter and triathlete."It is an exciting time to take on the role of chair for the Challenge Wanaka Sports Trust,” Julie said. “Although somewhat daunting, with big shoes to fill of the previous chair, Tom Pryde, I have the support and privilege to work with a committed group of trustees who are passionate about the purpose of the trust.”Tom led the trust from its inception in 2009 until his retirement in May 2021. Founding trust member Alistair Madill said Tom had played a very important role.“Tom's experience, deep knowledge of all things triathlon, and skilled leadership enabled the event to thrive and flourish, despite many headwinds, not least COVID-19. He has left the trust in fine fettle, ready to forge ahead into its next period of development.”The Challenge Wanaka Sports Trust is also seeking two new trustees.The board has more changes afoot: it is currently looking for two new trustees.“It is an exciting time to come on board with new initiatives planned for 2021/2022,” Julie said. “We are looking for trustees who are passionate about our purpose and have some of the following skills: strong financial literacy and analytical ability; relationships with disability and related community organisations; appreciation of sustainable and environmental operations and implementing sustainability strategies; an understanding of tikanga and the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi; broad business and governance experience.”Send expressions of interest to Julie Aitken at [email protected] or call on 021448522 by July 30.PHOTO: Supplied

When we think about volunteering, it is often about using our unique strengths to contribute to the community. This profile, though, is about someone who combined new weaknesses with her existing strengths in order to help others.As a cancer survivor, Lucy Thomson found herself facing a new reality of physical challenges as a result of her treatment. She has now turned living that reality into her super power as a volunteer.Born and raised in Wanaka, and partially driven by having grown up with friends with Downs Syndrome and Epilepsy, Lucy studied Occupational Therapy and Diversional Therapy, which helps elderly and disabled people engage with meaningful activities.However, her desire to be a chef sent her down a completely different path starting with training at Otago Polytech and moving on to hard physical and mental work as a chef in Wanaka.Then cancer struck. As her own body changed over two and a half years of chemotherapy, Lucy increased her innate ability to relate to people with struggles and developed a great empathy for people facing difficulties. On the road to recovery, Lucy spends her time with her family, doing physio, walking and playing with her dogs, drawing, colouring, and knitting baby hats for Beanies for Babies and via Middlemore for Auckland hospitals.Lucy Thomson with her dogs.When she saw a video on Facebook highlighting M!NT with the kids singing and dancing and their parents talking about what the programme meant to their families, Lucy immediately knew she wanted to become involved. M!NT Charitable Trust is a small group of local families working on a voluntary basis to support kids, youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities in the Upper Clutha Region.Combining her early training in therapy with her natural creative talents, Lucy began helping with the music group where kids sing both familiar and new songs that they choose, explore different instruments, and learn and laugh together. She quickly realised that the role really fits her. Many people without intellectual and physical challenges strive to be empathetic to people with different needs, but Lucy is now able to truly do so.M!NT delivers an activity programme, including gym, dance, yoga, kickball, swimming, as well as holiday excursions such as trampolining in Queenstown and trips up the mountain. They also strive for inclusion in community events such as Challenge Wanaka and RUBY Swim. With a wide range of ways for volunteers to participate, Lucy soon broadened her role.One of her favourite activities is the M!NT Dinner Crew outings where the older M!NT Crew (15 years and up) not only have the chance to socialise but also learn social and life skills by ordering and paying. Lucy shared a particularly proud moment when she saw “one of the group serving water to everyone around the table”.What does Lucy get out of it? “Mint gives me the opportunity to help enrich the lives of others while enriching my own,” she said.Seeing a kid you know “engaged and happy in the moment” is an amazing feeling and is accompanied by giving “parents a bit of a break when they know their kids are having a good time in a safe setting where they are accepted for who they are”.Lucy is also learning herself, whether that be from the initial induction training, or through ongoing coaching from programme manager Charlotte Jackson, to more formal learning opportunities like online courses for understanding intellectual disabilities and, especially fun, the volunteer night out when they share tips and tricks, feedback, and discuss how to handle challenges.  “It’s such a supportive, flexible, positive environment with really good vibes” where you can pick and choose which activities you contribute to, she said.On the fence about volunteering yourself? Consider Lucy’s words of advice: “Just give it a go – it’s as simple as that. If it doesn’t suit you or you want to try something else, that’s fine.”M!NT provides opportunities for those with additional needs to be themselves, interact with each other as well as the community and, importantly, a chance to be independent. M!NT has many different volunteer opportunities available, ranging from support people, drivers or graphic design.  At Volunteer South - Central Lakes, we can discuss your skills and goals for volunteering and help make the perfect match. See more roles on the Volunteer page in your Wanaka App.Volunteer South is a charitable trust that engages and supports both tūao volunteers and volunteers involving organisations and community groups in the Southern region of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Local photographer Oscar Hetherington has been awarded Landscape Photographer of the Year and runner up for Overall Photographer of the Year at the Otago Museum Photography Awards. Oscar, who is just 20 years old, was “very excited and shocked” when his image, ‘Top to Bottom’, was selected for both of those awards in a large field with over 4000 entries, he told the Wanaka App.Oscar had held the image back from social media knowing it was ‘special’. “I aim to shoot and share something unique so sometimes hold onto a photo for up to a year or so until I find the right way to share it, via print or in a magazine or enter it into any awards. This was also the first time I had entered the Otago museum photography awards.” When Oscar visits Wanaka, his home town, he takes to the skies with his father, a pilot, in search of new terrain and beautiful views. This is how ‘Top to Bottom’ was captured, on a mid-winter evening last year flying over Mt Ionia in Mount Aspiring National Park.  “It stands out to me because it gives the perspective of peering over the edge of a mountain top all the way down to the valley floor and rivers below,” Oscar said. Oscar first picked up a camera when he was 14-years-old, with a view to capture and document adventures with his friends.He loves shooting and creating images, and describes his approach to image making as “unconventional.”  Many of his images are taken in the ocean and in extreme conditions in the outdoors, but overcoming these challenges is something Oscar enjoys the most.“I know that every story has a different way of being told. I like to think as a problem solver, and action taker.” “I've definitely had a few close calls, had mild hypothermia once or twice and always get a good adrenaline rush from shooting in the ocean.” Oscar wants to sell his prints as fine art, and work with companies whose values align with his love of risk taking, story-telling and problem solving. “I'm looking forward to the future, exploring new places, sharing stories and taking lots of photos,” he said. See more of Oscar’s stunning visuals here.

Cardrona-Treble Cone general manager Bridget Legnavsky has been promoted in a recent realignment of parent organisation Wayfare Group.Bridget is promoted to the new position of chief experience officer with responsibility for all Wayfare Group experiences, Wayfare chief executive officer Stephen England-Hall said.“Bridget is a visionary leader, with an incredible talent for building team culture to deliver an outstanding guest experience and we want to continue to ensure this is developed further across the group,” he said.  She will lead, coach and mentor a team of general managers responsible for Wayfare’s tourism and ski experiences across their brands Real Journeys, Go Orange, the International Antarctic Centre and Cardrona Alpine Resort.Wanaka-based Bridget will still have overall responsibility for "the Cardrona/Treble Cone Experience”, but there will be a new ski experience general manager (yet to be announced) reporting to her.Bridget LegnavskyBridget’s new role was one of several announced today (Tuesday June 22) designed to bring the diverse capabilities from across the Wayfare Group to work together to build a more sustainable business, Stephen said. Wayfare’s operations stretch from Christchurch to Stewart Island and include International Antarctic Centre, Walter Peak TSS Earnslaw in Queenstown, Milford and Doubtful Sounds day and overnight trips, Go Orange rafting and Cardrona/Treble Cone skifields.In the wake of Covid-19’s impact on tourism, the realignment of the Wayfare Group has meant refocusing its purpose and accelerating the move towards sustainable tourism by delivering the most memorable experiences, Bridget said.“It’s a very bold purpose towards change,” she said, and she will be relying on “people capable of being visionaries” to achieve it.“I feel incredibly privileged to be asked to lead this step-change [in purpose], designing what’s sustainable but also the parts that can be regenerative...and working with others to bring it to life,” she said. Wayfare’s changes have opened up a number of new leadership opportunities within the company and have not resulted in any job losses, Stephen said.Real Journeys general manager Paul Norris, who was presented with the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to tourism and conservation last month, has been promoted to chief conservation officer to lead conservation and sustainability initiatives across the group. PHOTOS: Supplied

Wanaka theatre maven Gilly Pugh has taken on the challenge of musical director for the Fine Thyme Theatre Company’s production of ‘Shortland Street - The Musical’. Gilly is a veteran performing arts practitioner who, after teaching herself piano at the age of 10, and later abandoning a nearly completed music degree in pursuit of performing, has spent her life performing, directing, writing, touring and teaching. She is comfortable in the realm of comedy and music, which makes a perfect fit for the Cromwell-based musical performance next month.“We are so privileged to be working with such a talented creative team,” Fine Thyme Theatre Company president Katie Lindsay said, adding that the district is “in for a treat with this absolute Kiwi-classic”.The production includes a cast of 20 actors, singers, and dancers from all over Central Otago, including Wanaka.Director Lisa Clough holds a diploma in teaching Speech and Drama from the Trinity College of London, and has taught music and drama in schools, and co-managed Drama Queenstown. Choreographer Tiffany Bindon has experience in a wide range of dance genres, including musical theatre.‘Shortland Street – The Musical’ will run from July 16-24 in the Cromwell College Auditorium. Tickets are now on sale. Find more information here.PHOTO: Supplied

A Wanaka-based mental health and well-being advocate is using local faces in a national mental health campaign, with the aim of normalising asking for help. Wanaka-based WellSouth Primary Health Network suicide prevention coordinator Karyn Munro said the project she is coordinating adds images of local residents to posters, promoting the national free counselling service 1737. In addition to raising the profile of the service locally, her aim is to make it relatable, accessible, and relevant - and to reach groups who might not ordinarily think to ask for help. “The idea is to raise awareness of and encourage people to take up ‘help-thinking behaviour’,” Karen said.  1737 is New Zealand’s national mental health and addictions helpline number; the four-digit number is free to text or call anytime to talk with a trained counsellor. It is staffed by a team of paid counsellors who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Asking for help can be new to many people,” Karyn said. “Using local people brings home the message that people who might want to talk or need a little extra help are our friends and neighbours.” The initiative is based on a similar campaign that was used in South Canterbury, created by Annette Beautrais.  An initial photo shoot took place last week at the Mitre 10 in Wanaka, aimed at people working in the trades. Other photos in the campaign will include a new mum, a man in his 20s and another man after 40. The photos have been taken by local photographer Jodie James. Localising the 1737 campaign is part of a shared approach to coordinating mental health and well-being services and support in Central Lakes, led by the Central Lakes Well-Being Recovery Group. Southern District Health Board allied health director for mental health Adell Cox said the plan is to extend the 1737 localised promotion across Queenstown and Central Otago. “The Central Lakes Wellbeing Recovery Group hopes the use of local people for the 1737 posters helps make the images relatable to people in our community and underlies the message that 1737 is a resource for anyone in need,” Adell said. Learn more about 1737 here. PHOTOS: Jodie James 

Wanaka resident Ross Black is appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.Ross founded the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust and was chair from 1998 to 2019, spearheading a $3.5M fundraising drive for a dedicated rescue helicopter in the Otago area.The trust now has four dedicated rescue helicopters. Ross described his role to the Wanaka App as “a small bit player”, and says he was surprised to be nominated for the honour.“I’m not the hero in the story,” he said, adding that Graeme and Rosslyn Gale (who have run Helicopters Otago since 1993), their pilots and paramedics are the real heroes.Ross, who started his business life with an outdoor leisure company, moved on to become an independent company director on a variety of companies.“I’ve had some amazing association with some amazing companies and people,” he said, adding: “But without a doubt, the most rewarding and dearest to my heart has been the rescue helicopter trust.”“It’s given me a very privileged insight into the paramedic and pilots; their dedication, competence, and the connection with the hospital. It’s an amazing service and I’ve really been quite delighted to be involved with it.”Time to celebrate? See Dine | Drink in your Wanaka AppOtago in the 1990s didn’t have a rescue helicopter, despite having “a lot of people who live and work and play in comparatively remote locations”. “When Graeme Gale came to me and said we really need to be upside with Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, that was the starting point for us all getting together,” Ross said.The group of businessmen founding the trust had no funding, and raised the money to buy the equipment and build the helipad at Dunedin Hospital, underwriting the financial risk.Ross was instrumental in obtaining a significant value in donated professional services, supporting the day-to-day operations of the rescue helicopter service, as well as ground-breaking equipment upgrades, such as night-vision goggles and GPS routes that enabled missions in conditions that would not have otherwise been possible. From inception until Ross’ retirement in March 2019, the Otago rescue helicopter service transported more than 9,500 patients to hospital.“That’s a lot of anxious, worried people,” Ross said.The trust has benefitted the Otago and Southland community across farm and workplace, sporting, and vehicle accidents, sea and land rescues, major medical events and transfers from smaller hospitals. Ross noted the “brilliant” regard for the trust in the community.“During my time we raised $15M from the community - and it wasn’t difficult. Everyone knows about the rescue helicopter and wants to support it.”“I still get a lump in my throat when I’m at the base and see the machine scrambling to get in the air. It only takes two or three minutes - the crews are running, everyone knows exactly what their job is and they are going as fast as they can to get the best outcome for the person at the other end.”“The passion for the rescue helicopter service - the dedication of the staff, and to be associated with those people has really been a true joy and an inspiration,” he said.Ross also acknowledged the other trustees, who freely give their time to support and guide the trust.“It’s not just me - there’s been a dedicated group of trustees,” he said.Ross was also trustee and chair of the Healthcare Otago Charitable Trust from 1999 to 2014, during which time he oversaw the implementation of an investment policy that built the trust’s funds to more than $17M and distributions to the community of more than $10M for equipment, training, research and community projects.Ross was a director of Canterbury Health Boards from 1996 to 2001 and chair of Otago District Health Board from 1998 to 2001.He and his wife Sue have lived in Wanaka for about 14 years. Ross retired in March 2019, and said he looks back and marvels that he “ever had any time to do any work”.“I’m a poor golfer, and a reasonably keen but aging skier,” Ross said, adding that his second big passion is his four grandchildren. See the full list of Queen's Birthday Honours here.PHOTO: Wanaka App